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Saphenous vein graft harvesting and patency: No-touch harvesting is the answer

2017; Elsevier BV; Volume: 154; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.jtcvs.2017.02.010

1097-685X

Domingos Ramos de Souza, Michael R. Dashwood, Ninos Samano,

Mechanical Circulatory Support Devices

In their recent reply to the Editor, “Saphenous vein graft harvesting and patency: still an unanswered question,”1 Benedetto and Angelini clearly have reservations regarding the use of the no-touch technique of harvesting the saphenous vein (SV). Although they agree “every effort should be made to avoid SV damage and overdistension during harvesting,” they believe “the role of the no-touch technique and surrounding soft tissues still needs to be clarified.” Apart from comments regarding potential increased risk of surgical-site infection in the leg, their main concern appears to be related to the preparation of the SV in the “control/conventional” group that “underwent aggressive manual distension with saline at 300 mm Hg for 1 minute.” Clearly, many surgeons seem unaware of the alarmingly high pressures required to overcome spasm when distending the SV during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).